Brace yourself for a new epic drama.
From creators David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo, and inspired by the internationally celebrated novel The Three-Body Problem, comes the Emmy-nominated series 3 Body Problem. “The scope and size of it was really exciting,” Woo told Netflix. “Having it rooted in a period of Chinese history was also really exciting.”
Over the course of eight episodes, 3 Body Problem immerses audiences in mysteries and earth-shattering discoveries, before potentially catastrophic consequences come to life as we know it. As you prepare to embark on this mind-boggling journey spanning continents and timelines — from the 1960s Cultural Revolution in China to the present-day streets of Oxford, England, and the United Nations in New York — here’s everything you need to know about the series.
The story begins in 1960s China when a young woman makes a fateful decision that reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel, a tight-knit group of brilliant scientists must join forces with an unflinching detective to stop humanity’s greatest threat. 3 Body Problem is an epic story that redefines sci-fi drama with its layered mysteries and story of human connection.
Check it out right now above. The song in the trailer is “This Bitter Earth” by Dinah Washington.
Yes. 3 Body Problem is based on the internationally celebrated trilogy by Chinese author Cixin Liu which chronicles humanity’s greatest threat to date. “We like the same things about the books that so many other fans do,” said Weiss. “We’re doing everything in our power to bring this story to life in the best, most impactful way possible. But reading the books is not a prerequisite for understanding or enjoying the show.”
The three creators (Benioff, Weiss, and Woo) spoke to author Cixin Liu on Zoom early in their creative process and received the novelist’s blessing to adapt his work — and he encouraged them to make necessary narrative changes. Some of those key changes include chronological shifts, character tweaks, expansions, additions, and setting the present-day story primarily in the UK.
Woo (Emmy-nominated writer-producer), Benioff, and Weiss (multiple Emmy Award–winning creators of Game of Thrones) are veterans of book adaptations with passionate fan bases. Woo wrote the adaptation of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and multiple episodes of True Blood, and Benioff and Weiss helmed the Game of Thrones series. “We have a tremendous love and respect for the books,” said Benioff. “You can’t devote every waking moment of your life for years on end to adapt a piece of work that you don’t love. So it’s very important to us that the show stand on its own two legs and work for people who have read the books — and for people who haven’t read the books.”
Fundamentally, books and television are different mediums, Woo said. “The experience of watching a television series is different from watching a feature film, [which] is so different from the experience of reading a novel. What we are hoping to do is to convey the experience — if not necessarily the exact details — of the novel onto the screen. What stayed, we hope, is the sense of wonderment and the sense of scope, of scale, where the problems are no longer just the problems of an individual or even a nation, but of an entire species.”
Director Derek Tsang read the series in both English and Chinese before diving in to direct Episodes 1 and 2, which are partially set during the Cultural Revolution. “The novel is written in Chinese, and it’s mainly Chinese characters on the page,” he said. “It makes sense that because we’re adapting the story for our global audience, we’ve widened the scope and have more characters from all over the world. Author Cixin Liu gave us his blessing, and I think that David, Dan, and Alex did a great job in keeping what are essentially the best elements from the novel while also making it into a much more global, international story.”
These are themes that will resonate across audiences. “This is very much a story about humanity, and humanity’s struggle with a seemingly unsolvable mystery that snowballs into a full-on existential crisis,” said Benioff. “So we wanted to represent, as much as possible, all of humanity. We wanted people from all over the world. We tried to make this a very diverse, international cast to represent the idea that this isn’t just one country’s struggle; it’s a global struggle to survive.”
3 Body Problem stars an international cast. “We felt very strongly about the characters,” said Woo. “I started as a playwright, so that’s the only way I know how to write: character first. For a television series, that’s the thing that gives you an emotional attachment to the story and makes you think about it after the credits roll. My favorite television characters are people that I see more often than I see my actual friends.”
An ex-intelligence officer with an unorthodox style of tradecraft, Da Shi investigates the ongoing mysterious deaths within the scientific community.
Doctor Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Prometheus, Annihilation, Moon
A member of the “Oxford Five,” a group of young Oxford scientists.
A genius theoretical physicist with an insatiable thirst for answers about the biggest questions in the universe, Jin’s curiosity could be her biggest strength — if it’s not her downfall.
Inked, The Brokenwood Mysteries
A member of the “Oxford Five.”
No less gifted but far less focused than his peers, Saul is a physics research assistant who hasn’t reached his full potential. When the ultimate challenge presents itself, will he rise to it?
Babylon, Watchmen (series), The Stand, When They See Us, The Leftovers
A member of the “Oxford Five.”
A nanotech trailblazer, Auggie is dedicated to solving actual problems now, not theoretical ones in the future. Strong and visionary, she’s a natural target for humanity’s enemies.
Ambulance, I Care A Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Alita: Battle Angel
A member of the “Oxford Five.”
Rude, outspoken, and lovable, Jack used his physics degree to develop a snacks empire.
Game of Thrones, North Shore, Moonfall
A member of the “Oxford Five.”
A sixth-form physics teacher, Will receives life-changing news that forces him to reconsider his place in the universe.
How to Talk to Girls at Parties, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Broadway production)
Astrophysics prodigy Ye Wenjie feels alone in the universe after losing everything during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. A decision she made in the 1960s echoes through the centuries and may still be heard at the end of time.
This is Tseng’s first major role. Chao can be seen in Sweet Tooth, Better Things, The Starling and The Joy Luck Club.
A passionate environmentalist turned billionaire oil tycoon.
Pryce can be seen in Game of Thrones, The Crown, Brazil, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The New World. Ben Schnetzer can be seen in Pride, Y: The Last Man and The Giant.
The charismatic leader of the world’s most elite intelligence operation, Wade is the ultimate big-picture thinker. People are props in his game — and his audacious gambits have a tendency to pay off.
Game of Thrones, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, The Hot Zone
Raised from birth in Mike Evans’ organization, Tatiana has dedicated her life to welcoming the outsiders — by any means necessary.
Joe vs. Carole, Dare Me
An avatar who appears in a mysterious VR game within the show.
Arrow, MacGyver
A naval officer from a military family, Raj has a deep commitment to his work. His relationship with his girlfriend, Jin, risks becoming collateral damage in his mission.
Inventing Anna, What/If, Succession
A 9-year-old character whom Jin encounters in the VR game.
This is Ridley’s first major role.
Yes! In Episode 3, when Jin and Jack appear before Mongol emperor Kublai Khan, two other players are waiting: pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing and Sir Isaac Newton. In those scenes, Turing is played by Reece Shearsmith and Newton by Mark Gatiss. Shearsmith and Gatiss helmed the British sitcom The League of Gentlemen.
“One of the fun things about doing those video game sequences is that there’s no limit to how weird they can [be],” says Woo. “A video game’s a completely virtual environment — and a chance to work with some of our favorite comedic actors.”
Yes — six times over. On July 17, the Television Academy announced their nominations for the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, and 3 Body Problem scored nods in six categories:
You can watch it right now at the top of this article.
On March 8, the world premiere of 3 Body Problem kicked off the SXSW Festival in Austin Texas, accompanied by an immersive hologram experience on the ground.
Virtual reality comes to life in the sneak peek clip above, as Jin Cheng (Hong) and Jack Rooney (Bradley) try on a strange device.
As you watch the series, dive into the official 3 Body Problem companion podcast hosted by entertainment superfan Jason Concepcion and scientist, educator, and television presenter Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock. In each episode, you’ll go behind the scenes of the series and learn about the real science that inspired the mind-bender of a sci-fi drama.
Check out another clip from the show right above.
Of course. Click through, below.
3 Body Problem is available to stream on Netflix now.
